The RSA is holding this inaugural Digital Summit to help the RSA deliver on its vision for a world where everyone is able to participate in creating a better future.

This is an interactive design event. It is future-focused, illustrating the art of the possible, based on the stimulus provided by visionaries including Lord Jim Knight, Dr. Anton Howes, Mike Butcher, MBE, Katz Kiely, Mark Earls, Phil Harvey, and Heleana Blackwell.

Facilitated breakout groups, for each theme, will give participants the chance to share their ideas and create rough prototypes.

The outputs of the event will help inform future RSA innovations alongside other inputs including the recent Fellowship Survey.

This is a Fellow-led, staff supported initiative, based on the belief that tapping into the collective intelligence of the Fellowship will help boost the RSA’s impact and enrich the Fellowship experience.

Our intention

We hope this event will be the beginning of a dialogue on these topics, sparking ongoing collaboration, creativity, leading to a legacy of lasting change.

In summary, our intentions are to:

Unlock the creativity and wisdom of RSA’s Fellowship to think like a system / act like an entrepreneur
Explore near and far-field opportunities for digital to augment and enrich the RSA’s impact helping shape the RSA’s digital transformation vision and roadmap
Create a new blueprint for Fellowship engagement by inviting fellows to share their knowledge and ideas for digital engagement with the RSA whist making new connections
Consider the human dimension of what digital transformation really means and what ingredients will be needed to successfully implement the vision
Build a network / ecosystem / community of support for the RSA’s digital transformation
Attract new Fellows (e.g. from more diverse backgrounds, technically proficient) and partners
Feel good / have fun — this is a creative solution-focused event that is designed to spark joy

The Six Summit themes

The following themes will be explored in the Summit:

RSA as a platform — creating an open accessible inclusive platform and digital toolset for Fellows to use to develop their own collaborative initiatives (decentralised) and for the RSA’s research teams to use to engage Fellows on the programmatic work of the RSA (centralised). What do we mean by platform? Why do we need it, how might it be manifested? What will make it successful?

RSA Insight to Action — how the RSA and its fellows can analyse societal needs and identify opportunities for action by harnessing the power of available data and technology. Reflect the pulse of the nation related to RSA policy areas through dynamic data visualisations and actionable insights; the RSA listens, engages, and responds to opportunities for social impact in powered by AI-driven insight tools and tech.

RSA Navigator — how to crack the RSA code and get the most out the RSA / how might it work / how can the RSA make it easier for Fellows to make the most of what is on offer and attract support for their own initiatives? How can RSA make the experience more personalised and improve it as it gets to know Fellows better?

RSA Learning Lab — How might the RSA facilitate learning within the RSA and beyond using digital tech and a blended approach? How can the RSA facilitate the greatest possible access to experts, peer learning and stimulating thought-fora? What form might the learning experience take? Thematic bite size learning opportunities by and for Fellows, RSA thought-leadership programmes, and/or something else curated by the RSA? Or is the RSA’s educational effort best focused on education reform? How to unlock and scale the think like a system, act like an entrepreneur methodology and ethos relating to education?

Virtual Coffee House — how do we use digital technology to recreate the serendipity associated with attending the RSA’s Coffeehouse and face to face networking events? How can we create / curate the most stimulating opportunities for discovering how to create a positive future? How can we promote existing networks, bring together Fellows locally, and internationally at scale virtually? Should we be creating a Tinder for Fellows or something else?

RSA Maker Playground — how might we create an applied research programme which results in products? Imagine if we could commission programme-inspired product and service design experiments; moving the RSA from just thinking into doing and action, from abstract to concrete — could we also invite and support fellow-led digital ideas into the RSA’s maker playground?

Event timing

Please note this event is from 3-6pm GMT.

Once you have signed up, you will receive an email with call joining instructions 48 hours, 2 hours, and 10 minutes before the event.

We look forward to seeing you!

Taking Part in RSA Online Events

For our interactive online events, the RSA uses the platform Zoom. We have found it simple for participants to use while also providing the necessary functionality for an engaging online event.

To participate in the event, you will need to register for a ticket to receive the bespoke link to join. You will be sent detailed instructions via email closer to the event. Attendees will need to register for a free Zoom account and download their software. To understand more about how Zoom uses your data, please read their Privacy Policy in advance.

We record many of our online events. By attending this online event you accept that you may appear in a RSA video as a participant. Our intention is to use any recording of this event for learning purposes and to document the content of the discussion. Currently we do not have plans to share this recording publicly, but may do so in the future.

If you have any questions, or to let us know of any access requirements or reasonable adjustments you require, please email: networks@rsa.org.uk

By registering for this event you consent to receiving communications about this event, both before and after, and you agree to the sharing of your name, organisation & title with the Fellow(s) and/or partner organisation(s) hosting this event. Attendees also agree to the sharing of your name and organisation with other delegates at the event so that they might contact you through MyRSA. If you do not wish this information to be shared, please let us know by emailing: networks@rsa.org.uk.

The information you provide when registering for an event will be retained by the RSA and will be used to record attendance at the event. To understand more about how the RSA uses your data, please see our Privacy Policy.

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As places are limited for this event, further information will be shared on the outputs of the Digital Summit and how to get involved in next steps in due course.

We welcome your feedback and interest in this work.

Brought to you by: Ann Longley, Fellowship Councillor, Peter Clitheroe, Fellowship Councillor, Yasmine Boudiaf, Creative Technologist, Chris Ward, Head of Digital.

RSA Digital Summit